Power-transmission device.



J. LOVELY.

POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 3, 1911.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

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wLUMBIA PLANDORAPH ClL. WASHINGTON. D. c.

J. LOVELY. POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 3, 1911.

1 ,O22,099. Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

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40 6 and 7 constituting another pair.

JOSEPH LOVELY, F HAMILTON, RHODE ISLAND.

POWER-TRANSMISSION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 3, 1911.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Serial No. 642,154.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .Tosnrn LOVELY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, county of Vashington, State of Rhode Island, haveinvented an Improvement in Power-Transmission Devices, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to power-transmission devices of that type inwhich the power is developed by the operation of a falling weight, andthe object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism of this typewhich is comparatively simple in its construction and which can be usedfor a variety of purposes.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have zoillustrated one embodiment ofmy invention,

Figure 1 is a side view of the device; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 3g Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side View with the upper part thereof shown insection on substantially the line m m, Fig. 1.

1 designates a shaft which I will hereinafter refer to as the powershaft, it being the shaft which is operated by my mechanism and fromwhich the power is taken. This shaft 1 is supported in any suitablebearings weights 4, 5, 6, 7 which are adapted to move up and down insuitable guides 8 that are supported in any appropriate way. Saidweights are arranged in pairs, the weights 4 and 5 constituting one pairand the weiglilts T e weights 4 and 5 of one pair are hung from oppositeends of a lever 9 which is mounted to turn on a rod or shaft 10 thatextends parallel to the power shaft 1 and is supported in the brackets3, and the weights 6 and 7 are hung from the opposite ends of anotherlever 11 also pivotally mounted on the shaft 10. As herein shown eachweight has connected thereto a link 12 by which it is hung from itslever, although any suitable connection between the weights and thelevers might be employed. Provision is made whereby the rocking of thelevers 9 and 11 about the shaft 10 will give continued for- Ward rotarymovement to the shaft 1. In

the present embodiment of my invention,

this is accomplished by the following mechanism: Each of the levers 9and 11 has pivotally connected thereto two oppositely-disposed pawls 13and 14 which cooperate with ratchet wheels 15 and 16, respectively, thatare loosely mounted on the shaft 10. The ratchet wheel 15 has rigidtherewith a gear 17 which meshes with a gear 18 fast on the shaft 1. Theratchet .16 has rigid therewith a gear 19 which meshes with an idler 20supported by the bracket 3 and which in turn meshes with a gear 21 faston the shaft 1. \Vhen the lever 9 is mov ng in the direction of thearrows c thereon the pawl 11 will cooperate with the ratchet wheel 16and gears 19, 20 and 21, thereby to turn the shaft 1 in the direction ofthe arrow 7), Fig. 3, and during this time the pawl 13 will click overthe teeth of the ratchet 15. \Vhen the lever 9 swings in the oppositedirection the pawl 14 is idle, but the pawl 13 cooperates with theratchet 15 and gears 17 and 18 to continue the rotation of the shaft 1in the direction of the arrow 6. A similar pawl and ratchet and gearmechanism connects the lever 11 with the shaft 1. As a result theoscillating movement of the levers 9 and 11. will give continued forwardrotary movement to the shaft 1.

The oscillatory movement is given to the levers 9 and 11 by theoperation of the weights 4, 5, G and 7, and to accomplish this I providemeans for lifting one weight of each pair thereby to allow the otherweight of said pair to act by gravity on the lever to which it isconnected and turn saidlever, said means being so constructed that itwill come into play to raise any weight as soon as said weight hasreached the lower limit of its movement. In the embodiment of theinvention herein shown each weight is supported on a holder 22 which hasscrewthreaded connection with a vertically-extending screw 23 that issupported in any suitable bearings 24. Each screw has at its lower end abevel gear 25 and the two bevel gears of either pair of screws mesh withbevel gears 26 on a shaft 27 which extends from one screw to the other,the gearing being so arranged that when the shaft 27 rotates one screwwill be turned to elevate one platform or support 22 while the otherscrew will be turned to lower the other platform or support.

Means are provided for reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft27 when any weight reaches the lower limit of its movement, and whileany suitable means for this purpose may be employed I have herein showna reversing gear which is operated by each weight as it descends. Eachshaft 27 has slidably mounted thereon but splined thereto a sleeve 30having rigid therewith two oppositely-disposed bevel gears 31, 32. Thesegears are adapted to mesh with a gear 33 on adriving shaft 34 which isprovided with a pulley 35 by which power may be applied thereto. Thesleeve 30 is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the shaft 27 to bringeither of the gears 31 or 32 into mesh wit-h the gear 33 by a reversingmember which is actuated by the falling weights. This reversing memberis shown as a threearmed member 37 pivotally mounted at 36 to a suitablestand and having one arm 38 in the form of a fork which embraces thesleeve 30 and operates in a groove therein and having two other arms 39,40 extending into position to be engaged by the supports 22 of theweights 4 and 5 as they descend.

With the construction thus described it will be apparent that when theshaft 34 is rotated it will operate to elevate one weight of each pairand at the same time it will lower the platform or support 22 for theother weight of each pair. The lowering of the platforms or supports 22allows the weights thereon to descend and the descending weights act onthe levers 9, and 11 to give them a turning movement, it being readilyunderstood that the rising platforms serve to support the weightsconnected to the opposite ends of the levers and take said weights offfrom the levers. When any weight reaches the lower limit of its movementthe platform thereof engages one arm of the reversing lever 37 therebyto operate the reversing mechanism and to cause the shaft 27 to rotatein the opposite direction. The result of this will be that the loweredweight will be lifted by the reverse operation of its screw while theelevatedweight will be allowed to descend and thus turn the lever in theopposite direction.

I propose to arrange the weights and levers so that when one lever is atthe 6X- treme limit of its movement the other lever will be atapproximately midway of its stroke. The reason for this is that one pairof weights is in operation to keep the parts moving while the reversingmechanism for the other pair of weights is operating.

By making the levers 9 and 11 of considerable length comparatively lightweights will apply a considerable turning force to the power shaft,although I wish it understood that the size of the weights used and thelength of the levers may be varied without departing from the invention.It will be obvious, of course, that the shaft 1 will rotate at a verymuch slower rate of speed than the shaft 34 and that the deviceconstitutes one form of reducing gearing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a power transmission device, thecombination with a rocking lever, of a weight connected at each endthereof, means to raise the weights alternately, a power shaft, andmeans to rotate the shaft continuously in one direction by theoscillating.

movement of the lever.

2. In a power generator, the combination with a rocking lever, of aweight connected to each end thereof, a support for each weight, a screwfor raising and lowering each support alternately, a power shaft, andmeans to rotate the shaft continuously inone direction by theoscillating movement of the lever.

3. In a power transmission device, the combination with a rocking lever,of a weight connected to each end thereof, a support for each weight, ascrew for raising and lowering each weight, screw-operating mechanism, apower shaft, means to rotate the shaft continuously in one direction byoscillating movement of the lever, and means controlled by the weightfor reversing the screw-operating mechanism.

4. In a power transmission device, the combination with a rocking lever,of a weight connected to each end thereof, a support for each weight, ascrew for raising and lowering each Weight, screw-operating mechanism, apower shaft, means to rotate the shaft continuously in one direction byoscillating movement of the lever, and means controlled by each weightwhen it reaches the lower limit of its movement to reverse thescrew-operating mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscriblng witnesses.

JOSEPH LOVELY.

Witnesses GEORGE STONE, MARIA STONE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C.

